The government expands its start-up loans scheme to try to encourage young people to run their own businesses, but critics say it has made a disappointing start.

Retail sales in Germany rose as much as 2.1% last year as Europe's largest economy took the eurozone debt crisis in its stride, according to the Federal Statistical Office.

The UK housing market shows signs of picking up as mortgage approvals for home buyers rose again in November, Bank of England figures show.

Daphne Oxenford, known to millions of children for saying "Are you sitting comfortably? Then I’ll begin", dies aged 93.

The government should rule out using peak-time train fare rises to manage passenger numbers, says a report by the Commons Transport Select Committee.

Venezuela's President, Hugo Chavez, is suffering from "complications" brought on by a severe lung infection which developed after surgery.

Catalan Dragons scrum-half Scott Dureau is recovering from surgery to remove a tumour behind his eye.

Haim, a trio of Californian sisters who have been compared to Fleetwood Mac, come top of the BBC Sound of 2013 new music list.